Book Ornaments Workshop & Samples

Book Ornaments
Sun. Dec. 14, 11 am - 4 pm

Miniature books are one of my favourite things to make! Participants will create several small books that are perfect for hanging on a tree, giving as a gift, or using as a special card or album. Projects will be based on simple book structures such as the concertina, stab binding and origami fold star. Special attention will be paid to embellishing techniques for the pages and covers and spines. A variety of washi, chiyogami and other beautiful papers will be used on the covers, as well as findings, glass beads, ribbons, closures, etc.
Cost $50.00 + GST
Supply fee of $10.00 is due in cash on the day of the workshop.

These are some samples of books we'll be making at the Book Ornaments Workshop on Dec. 14th. I love tiny books! We hang or nestle them on our tree at Christmas. They're great gifts and you can put little drawing, pictures or sayings on the pages.

It's that time of year!

Chocolate Type! Yum!

I've seen this in several places on the web. The chocolates are made by a company in Germany.

Even though the letters are facing the correct way for reading I still think it's great. Hey, it's chocolate and letters together! Two of my favourite things! Now if I could get my chocolatier friend  here in Toronto to make these, wrong facing even, then I would be in heaven and full of chocolate!

Full Up!

Wow! That was fast. Both Intro. to Letterpress workshops have filled! I can't wait to teach some new faces about letterpress printing! Hopefully some of them will become addicted to the "Black Arts" and help keep it alive! Of course I'll give the regular warnings about how it eats away at your time, space and money... but the ones who get hooked don't seem to care. 

I love it. Letterpress slows one down and is so tactile.

Upcoming Workshops

INTRO. TO LETTERPRESS
Sat. Nov. 22, 10 am - 3 pm OR Sat. Nov. 29, 10 am - 3 pm
Learn the basics of printing on a flatbed press with Akemi Nishidera at her studio. The Vandercook press is one of the most popular presses for letterpress printers and the little Showcard is perfect for small editions, gift tags, and quick prints. In this introduction class, participants will learn how to get a clear relief print from a combination of wood type, metal type, and metal cuts. Prints will be done in one colour and proper inking, locking, operation of the presses and proper use of cuts and type will be stressed. This is a great workshop to take if you have an inkling that you might like to get your own press.
Cost $ 57.00 + GST
Supply fee of $10.00 due in cash on first day of class.
Please note that two-colour registration, creating a form in the chase and composing type is not covered in the Intro. to Letterpress class. This is done in Letterpress 1.

LETTERPRESS 1
Sun. Dec. 7 and Sat. Dec. 13, 10 am - 4 pm
In this intensive two day workshop participants will learn how to set type, lock up a form and register for two colour printing. Everyone will create a limited edition of their own unique letterpress printed Broadsides that will be traded among class. Participants should have 'Intro. to Letterpress ' or have discussed their previous experience with the instructor.
Cost $150.00 + GST for 2 day workshop
Supply fee of $15.00 is due in cash on the first day of class.

HOLIDAY PRINTING EVENT!
Wed. Dec. 10, 6 pm - 9 pm
Bring your own card stock, envelopes, tags, etc. to this workshop and print from a variety of our vintage letterpress Holiday cuts. A festive red will be going on one press and rollers of green and blue will be going on the small press. Participants should be able to print one to two dozen single colour cards. At last year's workshop, everyone turned out great original cards and tags!
Cost $30.00 + GST
No supply fee.


BOOK ORNAMENTS
Sun. Dec. 14, 11 am - 4 pm
Miniature books are one of my favourite things to make! Participants will create several small books that are perfect for hanging on a tree, giving as a gift, or using as a special card or album. Projects will be based on simple book structures such as the concertina, stab binding and origami fold star. Special attention will be paid to embellishing techniques for the pages and covers and spines. A variety of washi, chiyogami and other beautiful papers will be used on the covers, as well as findings, glass beads, ribbons, closures, etc.
Cost $50.00 + GST
Supply fee of $10.00 is due in cash on the day of the workshop.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Payment is by Visa or cheque. Cheques should be made out to Akemi Nishidera and mailed to Akemi Nishidera, 51 Cummings St., Toronto, ON M4M 1M9
For Visa payment please telephone or e-mail Akemi.
For more information contact Akemi. e-mail: kozostudio@gmail.com tel: 416-214-1882

Japanese Wood Block Workshop Nov. 23 & 30

For those of you that attended the Mokuhanga exhibition at the Japan Foundation in Toronto, here is a chance to try your hand at creating your own mokuhanga print. You will have seen Elizabeth Forrest's work at the exhibition, she was a student of Kurosaki sensei, and before that she was a printmaking instructor at OCAD.
If you jhaven't seen the 'Wood, Water, Paper, MOKUHANGA' exhibition, it is on until Nov. 15, 2008 at the Japan Foundation located at Bloor and Bay on the 2nd floor.

Check out:
www.elizabethforrest.ca
www.mokuhangatoronto.com/whatis.html


NENGA JOU MOKUHANGA WORKSHOP
Year of the Cow 2009
CREATE A JAPANESE NEW YEAR CARD and at the same time learn the basics of MOKUHANGA with instructor, Elizabeth Forrest.

Learn reduction carving and printing with at least 2 colours using waterbased pigments to create a small edition of new years cards. Please come with a “cow” idea or sketch. Plan for a 14 x 9 cm image.

DATES
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23 AND SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30,2008
From 10am – 4:30pm
Week one is for carving, week two is for learning to print.
LOCATION
KOZO STUDIO GALLERY, 257 Broadview Ave at
Dundas St. East, Toronto (formerly at the Distillery)
FEES
$95 + $15 for materials (woodlock, papers, pigments)
Good quality, authentic tools provided: carving tools, hake brushes, barens. NOTE: 10% off for cheques received before November 20th

Register now to avoid disappointment. For further information and to register: email Elizabeth at torontoprints@gmail.com.

PS Yes, Akemi Nishidera is still at KOZO, but I’m helping out a little more this time. EF

Photos of the Moku Hanga show and demonstrations

Opening night of "Water Wood Paper MOKUHANGA"!




Yay!
The opening of the show at the Japan foundation was a success! Of course, I arrived late with the fruit platter! I had to have a hot dog or two at my daughters meet the teacher night at school before we went.
The rooms at the Japan Foundation Gallery were filled to capacity! Attendees were very impressed by the range, variety, creativity and expertise of the participating artists. And, of course, ALL the food disappeared as soon as we could get it on the table!
Kudos to printmaker, Liz Forrest who had the vision to create this show. It is an extremely unique show and it is the first time Kurosaki sensei and some of his students have shown together. Liz worked extremely hard pulling it all together, writing for grants, working out dates and a venue, pulling our committee together, communicating with Moya in Japan, hosting our guests of honour... Liz is amazing!

The following day we had a very tasty lunch at a restaurant near the Japan Foundation. Kurosaki sensei and Sato san were the guests of honour. All together there were 10 of us. I felt very privileged to be there! Kurosaki sensei told us about his beginnings in art and meeting his sensei, Sato san! They have been working together for the past 40 years. Sato san comes from a family of wood block engravers and printers. They met when they were both in their twenties!
I must thank Suzuki san from the Japan Foundation who was our wonderful host at lunch and was very attentive in translating our conversations for Sato san. ( My mind actually draws a blank when I try to speak any Japanese! Three years in Japan did nothing for my vocabulary and grammar! )

The show is up until November 15th so check it out if you can!


Our guests from Japan. Artist and "go to person in Japan" Moya Bligh, Master wood engraver Sato Keizo, artist Kurosaki Akira.



Kurosaki sensei speaking about Japanese wood block techniques and his work at York University.



Sato san demonstrating traditional printing methods. Yes, he always works at a tiny table on the floor (tatami). We had this table built just for his visit!



Hanging the show at the Japan Foundation in Toronto.

Hisashiburi!

It's been a while. Sorry about the lapse.
Did you know that working on the computer in your first trimester of pregnancy could make you feel sea sick??!
I'm now on my 24th week so most of the nausea and overwhelming fatigue is gone. YAY!!
I basically had to take the last several months off.
I'm hoping to start holding workshops again in November.
I was able to do a last minute hosting of several artist's work for the JPP's Washi Summit in June and I have been able to intermittently help with the mounting of an amazing show of contemporary printmakers working in the traditional Japanese style of relief wood block printing. The technique is called Mokuhanga.
All nine contemporary printmakers were students of artist Akira Kurosaki of Kyoto, Japan. Kurosaki sensei's work is also shown.
The nine former students are from several different countries and they all went to Japan to study with Kurosaki san!
It's a beautiful and amazing show! If you are in Toronto between Oct. 3 to Nov. 15 you should check it out. It is at the Japan Foundation at 131 Bloor St. W (just west of Bay St. on the south side) on the second floor of The Collonade. Check our website for more show details.

http://www.mokuhangatoronto.com

NO BORDERS exhibit

Tonight is the opening event for the NO BORDERS exhibit at KOZO Studio/ Gallery.
This is part of the World Washi Summit that runs until June 15th.

Opening : TONIGHT! Thursday June 12 from 6 - 9 pm
at KOZO Studio/Gallery
257 Broadview Ave. (just north of Dundas St. E.)


Please come, meet some of the artists and have a bit to eat.

Artists showing are:
PRINT- Susan Cunningham
Elizabeth Forrest
Irina Schestakowich
Frederica Tomas
Barbara Wybou
Jillian Sokso (New York)
Sue Goldestein
Jerry Silverberg
Deb Oden (Savannah, Georgia)
Lucinda Chen
TEXTILE- Mildred Avendano
ARTIST"S BOOKS- Salina Kwan
Katherine Dynes
FIBRE - Akemi Nishidera
Kathleen Troy

Washi, washi, washi!

It's almost here!
We'll be hosting an exhibition, workshop and lecture!
The times and other info are on the side bar.
Tomorrow I'm meeting with Sheila to figure out what artwork should hang in which gallery. It will be the first art show I have had at KOZO! I've bought a picture hanging system for the show. I'm hoping to host more art shows in the future.

The workshop is Suminagashi. It's a japanese marbling technique where sumi ink is floated on water. This works excellently when you use light washi to pick up the pattern on. I find making the pattern on the water to be absolutely mesmerizing. The marbled papers were originally used as backgrounds for wood block prints and calligraphy. But they are great for bookbinding, cardmaking, origami, etc.

The lecture is a lecture that I gave at the Ontario Spinners and Weavers conference last fall. I taght myself how to put together a power point presentation! So, aside from me talking about how washi is made, why it's an awesome paper, and it's multitude of uses in the textile arts, there will also be tons of visuals! I was able to convert my video and slides from my three years apprenticing in Japan!